Toy bathtub



1950 T. E. TELLEFSEN 2,533,534

TOY BATHTUB Filed March 29, 1948 36 73 THOMAS E. TELL Eg s gN attorneyPatented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE TOY BATHTUB Thomas E.Tellefsen, Seattle, Wash. Application March 29, 1948, Serial No. 17,792onions. (Cl. 46 14) My present invention relates to the general art oftoy making, and more particularly to a toy bathtub.

With all the present day interest among grownups in the construction ofhousing and the like, it is only natural that this condition would bereflected through the talk of the parents on the desires of children forplay equipment. The toy doll houses have been made for many years, andof more recent years, considerable time has been spent on theconstruction of miniature furniture in order to equip the doll houses.My toy bathtub lends itself particularly to such equipment, although ofcourse, it can and no doubt will be used as a separate, individual toy.

Inasmuch as toys are now made to represent quite closely those found infull scale, such as, for instance electric ranges and electric ironsthat heat, and many other toys that perform generally the function ofthe full size equipment. I, therefore, have provided means, containedwithin my bathtub whereby the youngster can draw a bath for a .doll, forinstance, and when the bath is concluded, by opening the drain which ispositioned substantially as in a standard bathtub, the water containedwithin the bathtub will be drained down into a lower compartment on mytoy. I thus provide a functional toy that will prove to be of greatinterest-sustaining value.

The principal object in my present invention, therefore, is to provide atoy bathtub which can be filled with water from a self-contained sourceand which will permit the water to be drained out of the tub back intothis container within the outlines of the bathtub.

A further object of my invention is to'provide' a toy bathtub where thesupply of water can be stored out of sight in a flexible sack so that innormal operation there is no water spilled about the floor while my toyis in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a full functioning toybathtub in which the vari-' ous parts are simpl made so that they canare expected to have a long, useful life without the necessity ofrepairs and which can be made cheaply enough to bring the toy within therange of the majority of children. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy bathtub in which,for initial filling of the water system, the water is poured into thetub as it would normaly be in use, without the necessity of having tofill some small container within the limits of the bathtub. I

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and die- 2 closure in the drawings, or may be comprehendedor are inherent in the device.

In the drawings: I I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a bathtub made after the teachingsof my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough my bathtub takensubstantially along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the means I employ for compressingthe water containing sack of my bathtub.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view,.in vertical section, of the drainelementof my device. The same thing is shown on a substantiallyincreased scale.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, thenumeral I0 designates generally the main tub portion of my bathtub. Thisconforms to the general form of the usual bath: tub as to proportionsand has, as a matter of design necessity, the sloping bottom i2, so thatthe water will freely and quickl drain to one end. In other words, theslope for the relatively short distance should be several times that ofthe usual bathtub so that the water can be cleared out quickly whendesired. To complete the tub, I provide the two end walls as M and i6,and two substantially vertical parallel side walls. Flush with, andformed as art of the tub portions, is the upper surface as [Send thedownwardly directed skirts as 29. These skirts terminate in the lowersupporting flange 22, which entirely encircles the tub. As I haveindicated in Fig. 1, it is especially desirable to have the outside ofthe tub conform to modern practice in bathtub design, with the possibleexception of finishing the tub on all sides so that it can be viewedfrom any angle.

Referring now to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the bottom of the tub, as!2, is raised considerably above the floor line as determined by thedownwardly extending flange 22. This proportioning does not appreciablydetract from the lifelike appearance of the bathtub and it is essentialin order "that space be provided for the water containing flexible sackor bladder 24. The best type of sack 24 is a bulb lik'e arrangement madeof rather dense rubber or like material which has sufficient rigidity sothat it will normally re-eX'tend itself to its fullest position, muchafter the style of a self-filling bulb that once it has been compressed,tends to go back to its original form and thus has the quality ofdrawing by suc tion such water as may be in the tub.

In order to carry out the life-like representation of a bathtub, I haveprovided a water discharge tube 26, which is in turn suitably con nectedto the sack 24. It would be possible to position pipe 26 to connect withthe discharge opening normally closed by plug 60. Such an arrangementwould require only one actual opening into the sack 24. However, it hasbeen determined by trial, that a better arrangement appears to be, tobring tube 26 down along the side of the tub in the space, such asindicated at 28, which also extends around both sides of the tub andthus have 26 connected as at 30, to substantially a mid-point in thelength of sack 24 but on one side thereof.

In order to compress sack 24 and expel the water upwardly through tube26, into the tub, I provide the arrangement probably best illustrated inFig. 3,. wherein a sheet of metal or plastic, which is relatively rigid,as 32, is positioned in a carrier, which consists of a generalrectangular frame 34, which is bent at a point 36, substantiall midwayof the length of sheet 32, to provide a transverse rocking line. Sheet32 is formed to curl over the end of frame 34 as at 38, and at theopposite end of a U-shaped frame 40, hingedly secured at ii to frame 34,is provided so as to provide a support arrangement of similar characterat 42; Frame 46 is provided with the opposite bends 43 which provides atransverse rocking line through points 43. It will be observed by studyof the drawings that, if the upstanding end bar 44 is depressed, theframe 34 will rock about the bends at 36, and at the same time frame 49will rock about bends 43 so that plate 32 Will be raised and the watersqueezedfrom sack 24 through pipe 26 into the tub.

To effect the squeezing of sack 24 in a realistic manner, I haveprovided two yoke members as 58 and which are retained frictionally bythe resilient guide member 53. This arrangement prevents one yokedropping when the other is depressed. These yoke members are forked as55 and 56 so as to form a loose but workable engagement with bar 44 fframe 34. I prefer to use the two yoke members 56 and 5| and have themextend up through the top surface [8 of the tub as shown in Fig. 1, sothat they appear to provide a hot and a cold water supply. Naturallythey both act upon the same source of water but, it is probably the bestequivalent of the real thing that can be economically provided for theyoungsters enjoyment.

In order to provide a drain so that the Water can be drawn, or ratherflow out of the tub I0, I provide the outlet plug 6%. The exactconstruction of this plug is probably best illustrated in Fig. 4, and itmust be considered that this plug must seal its opening during the timethat the pressure is applied to faucets 56 and 5| in order that thewater does not come up through the drain but is actually forced outthrough pipe 26. Then when it is desired to drain the tub, the plug mustbe capable of being opened so that the water can run back into sack 24by gravity, or be sucked back int it, under certain conditions. Toachieve these results I feel it best to provide plug 60 with the handgrip portion 62 and a preferably conical seat 64. In order to resist thepressure during the time the tub is being filled I employ the screwthreads 66, which are threaded through through the material forming thebottom I 2 of the tub. In this connection it has been found desirable touse a multiple thread in order that a relatively small amount of turningof the 4 plug will raise it sufficiently to give prompt drainmg.

The member that is providing the seal between sack 24 and the drainopening is well illustrated in Fig. 4, in that the sack is reinforced,as in the annular ring at 68, and this being yieldable material can bedistended and slipped over the bulbous portion 10 of the conical seat64. A similar arrangement may be employed with tube 26. Tube 26, ofcourse, could be a flexible tube, however, having it disposed as isillustrated in Fig. 2, a fixed tube, such as a small piece of coppertubing can be very successfully employed.

To place my toy bathtub in full operation, assuming it has been justunpacked from the purchase package, water is poured into tub ID to adesirable level. As viewed this would be considered to be abouttwo-thirds full. From this point on the tub can function in the usualmanner that the child would use it. In order to drain the tub, plug 60is turned in its seat so that the conical seat is free and provides anannular opening for the Water to drain into sack 24, through a pluralityof annularly disposed openings 72. The whole amount can drain quicklyinto sack 24 as the bulb is normally of greater width than the inside oftub I0 and has a greater capacity. Tube 26, under this conditionprovides an air escape vent so that the water will flow under force ofgravity into sack 24. A variation of this, that may be attempted at anytime, is to depress yokes 50 and 5| thereby flattening sack 24. Then ifthe finger is placed over the discharge opening of 26 with drain 60open, a releasing of 50 and 5| will cause a very rapid evacuation of thewater due to the suction provided by sack 24 as it regains its normalform. ,This latter method is not the one that is normally used, but hasbeen found desirable where there may be sediment in the water and itwill provide considerable agitation within sack 24 so that sediment andthe like can be dispelled from the sack.

In the initial setup of my bathtub the various parts can be easilyassembled by removing the bottom plate 13. After parts are in place,plate '13 should be either snapped into the recess provided asillustrated in Fig. 2, or suitable means should be employed to secure itin place.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the abovedescription and the disclosure in the drawings that the inventioncomprehends a novel construction of toy bathtub.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A toy bathtub, consisting of: a tub of rectangular form having asloping bottom; a downwardly extending skirt surrounding and supportingsaid tub; a compressible, self restoring, water chamber disposed belowthe bottom of said tub; a water discharge tube, communicating with saidchamber and having a discharge end adapted to direct water into saidtub; a vertically movable support disposed below said chamber andadapted to contact its lower surface; means engageable outside of saidbath tub adapted to raise said support and compress said water chamber;a drain for said tub communicating with said chamber; a drain plugadapted to selectively seal said drain opening against upward flow ofwater, or to permit the flow of water downwardly through said drain.

2. A toy bathtub, consisting of: a tub of rectangular form having asloping bottom; a down wardly extending skirt surrounding and supportingsaid tub; a compressible water sack disposed below the bottom of saidtub; a water discharge tube, communicating with said sack and having adischarge end adapted to direct water into said tub; a verticallymovable plate disposed below said water sack and adapted to contact itslower surface; a frame-work disposed in part below said plate, adaptedto raise said plate; means engageable outside of said bath tub adaptedto communicate manual effort to said frame; a drain for said tubcommunicating with said water sack; a drain plug adapted to seal saiddrain opening against upward flow of water or downward flow of waterthrough said drain.

3. A toy bathtub, consisting of: a tub of rectangular form having asloping bottom; a downwardly extending skirt surrounding and supportingsaid tub; a compressible water sack disposed belo the bottom of saidtub; a water discharge tube, communicating with said sack and having adischarge end adapted to direct water into said tub; a plate disposedbelow said sack and adapted to contact its lower surface; a fram workengageable outside of said bath tub adapted to compress said water sack;said frame work having a carrier of rectangular form, bent intermediateits ends to provide a transverse rocking line, and adapted to supportone end of said plate; a U- shaped frame pivoted at its ends to saidcarrier, said U-shaped frame having a transverse rocking lineintermediate its ends and adapted to support the opposite end of saidplate; a drain for said tub communicating with said sack; a drain plugadapted to seal said drain opening against the flow of water in eitherdirection through said drain.

4. A toy tub, consisting of: a basin having a sloping bottom; means forsupporting said basin; a compressible water chamber disposed below thebottom of said basin; a water discharge tube, communicating with saidchamber and having a discharge end adapted to direct water atconsiderable pressure into said basin; means engageable outside of saidbasin adapted to compress said water chamber; a drain for said tubcommunicating with said chamber; a drain plug adapted to selectivelyseal said drain opening against upward flow of water to to permit theflow of water downwardly through said drain.

5. A toy tub, consisting of: a tub having a sloping bottom; a downwardlyextending skirt surrounding and supporting said tub; a self restoringcompressible water chamber disposed below the bottom of said tub; awater discharge tube, communicating with said chamber and having adischarge end adapted to direct water into said tub; a verticallymovable support disposed below said chamber and adapted to contact itslower surface; means engageable outside of said tub adapted to raisesaid support and compress said water chamber; a drain for said tubcommunicating with said chamber; a drain plug adapted to selectivelyseal said drain opening against upward flow of water or to permit theflow of water downwardly through said drain.

THOMAS E. TELLEFSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 746,390 Schmidt Dec. 8, 19031,340,109 Bodin May 11, 1920 2,196,912 Gilbraith Apr. 9, 1940

